Shoestring-fastener.



No. 679,022. Patented July 23, I90l. A. B. HARRIS.

SHOESTRING FASTENER.

(Application filed Mar. 25, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Wit asses El fljvvvis' 1 8mfig Ams m: norms Parana co., PucYo-Lm|o.wAsmNcJua c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ABRAHAM B. HARRIS, OF ETTER, VIRGINIA.

SHOESTRlNG-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,022, dated July 23, 1901. Application filed March 25. 1901- $erial No. 52,852. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM B. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Etter, in the county of Wythe and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Shoestring- Fastener, of which the following is a specifi cation.

This invention relates to a shoe string or lace fastener; and the object of the same is to provide a simple and effective device of this class which will not tear out of the shoe-upper after it has been properly applied and which will serve as a convenient means for securing the string or lace extremities and overcome the necessity of tying or untying the same.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the upper of a lace-shoe, showing the improved lace-fastener applied thereto, said fastener being disposed in duplicate on opposite sides of the opening in the upper. Fig. 2 is a similar view ofa portion of an upper, showing the improved fastener in single form and on an enlarged scale. Fig; 3 is a horizontal section through the upper portion and fastener as shown by Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The improved fastener comprises an inner reinforce or backing plate 1, an outer supporting-plate 2, a space-washer 3, a springtongue 4,, and rivets 5 and 6. The plates 1 and 2 are elongated and of equal length and width, said plates when applied, respectively, against the inner and outer sides of the upper being in transverse coincidence. The outer ends of the plates 1 and 2 are secured by the rivet 6, passed therethrough and the portion of the upper between said plates and closely upset or headed over against both plates. The space-Washer 3 is then placed against the inner end of the supporting-plate 2, and the inner end of the tongue 4 is dis posed on the washer, and after the latter parts have been properly arranged the rivet 5 g is passed therethrough and upset against the plate 1 and the tongue end, said latter rivet being longer than the rivet 6 for obvious reasons. When the several parts are secured, as just explained, a firm engagement is produced in relation to the shoe-upper, and the pulling strain on the tongue is distributed equally over the two plates 1 and 2, and the latter having the securing devices therefor at the ends and said securing devices spaced apart a considerable distance it will be impossible for said securing devices to be pulled out or the upper torn at the points they ongage therewith. Hence a reliable fastening for the improved device is provided Without liability of wear or injury to the shoe or other device to which the fastener may be applied.

The tongue at is reduced in width toward its outer end, and the latter is flared outwardly to permit the lace to pass easily thereunder, and by spacing the tongue in relation to the plate 2 and holding the inner end on the space-washer, as shown, it is not liable to break or become worn so rapidly by constant use. It is common in fasteners embodying spring-tongues to have the latter break off at the point of integral bend with a support; but by the present mode of connecting the tongue this disadvantage is overcome.

The fastener is adapted to be used in either double or single arrangement, and when applied on opposite sides of the opening in an upper, as shown by Fig. 1, the entrances under the tongues are outermost, so that the lace extremities can be crossed alternately from one to the other and be secured, as shown. One of the fasteners may be used to answer the same purpose and both lace extremities passed under the tongue thereof, and it is also intended to apply the fastener to devices other than shoes wherever found applicable.

The improved device can be easily applied and is of a comparatively inexpensive nature.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is The combination with a shoe-upper, of a pair of elongated plates of equal length, a space-washer, a tongue and a pair of rivets, one of the latter being longer than the other, the'plates being disposed against the inner IO and to the upper by the longer rivet, the

tongue projecting longitudinally outwardly over the said outer plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ABRAHAM B. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

EMORY G. HANKLA, WALTER E. RICHMOND. 

